NEWS & OPINIONS
VIDEO: Georgia’s Response To COVID 19, Voting By Mail, & Vital Resources
With stay-at-home ordinances in place, many Georgian's are wondering what is next. GCO's Vice President of Public Policy, Buzz Brockway, shares resources on how you should plan to vote by mail, stay healthy, and what we can expect next in response from government...
Taking care of neighbors and yourself | HEALTHY @ HOME
Being home with your family presents challenges and opportunities. Join GCO's Joyce Mayberry and Katherine Greene as they share ways that you can take care of yourself and your community.
VIDEO: Elections, Paycheck Protection, Learning Resources, and more.
While the Georgia legislature takes a hiatus, there is a lot happening around the state. GCO's Vice President of Public Policy, Buzz Brockway, shares valuable information on what you can expect with the election, new help for businesses, and additional learning...
Coronavirus And Its Teachable Moments
This too shall pass. At times, it may not feel like it, but the fact is that these are moments in time. We are a resilient people. We are going to get through this—and we actually are getting through this. When chaos happens we learn things about ourselves. Sometimes...
What Does The 2020 Stimulus Package Mean? | VIDEO
What's in the coronavirus stimulus bill and what does it mean for Georgia families and small businesses? GCO's Vice President of Public Policy, Buzz Brockway, went live on Facebook to answer that question and talk about what is next.
Community Is Happening Despite Social Distancing
As our communities, state, country, and even the world face unprecedented times because of the COVID-19 virus, one thing remains constant: community. It's true that because of mandates on social distancing, physical gatherings are being discouraged. This may make some...
Strengthening Family – Making The Most Of This Time Together
It’s an unprecedented time across Georgia, America, and the world as we all grapple with Coronavirus. As schools and daycare centers shut their doors to prevent further spread, millions of parents are faced with a new way of life, alone at home with the kids all day....
Property Confiscation And The Risk Of Discrimination
We need to discuss an underlying issue around the topic of civil asset forfeiture and why there is need for strong oversight and transparency. We have discussed what civil asset forfeiture is in a previous blog post but here is a reminder: Civil asset forfeiture is a...
Did You Know Your Property Can Be Taken Without A Conviction?
Knowing what civil asset forfeiture is and what you can do if you are a victim of it Let’s talk about a topic that doesn’t roll off the tongue or come up in casual conversation - civil asset forfeiture. We here at the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) just...
The Value of Sung and Unsung Heroes
As we celebrate, Black History Month, I’m reminded of the 1993 song written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff entitled “Hero”. The words to the chorus went like this: “And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you...
You Don’t Have To Be African American In Order To Appreciate Black History Month!
As I reflect on Black History Month, I remember when I first started working at the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO). Randy Hicks, GCO President and CEO, and I entered into a discussion about African American families. In reality, it should be called more of an...
Recognizing Black History Month Is About Recalling Where We Came From
Seeing Black History Month through the eyes of 114-year-old Gertrude Baines To celebrate Black History Month, let me take you back to November 2008. The morning of the election—an election that would make history with the victory of Barack Obama, first...
MEDIA MENTIONS
Opponents of school choice in Georgia Senate exercise it in their own families | The Lion
Georgia lawmaker Jodi Lott has a quick and easy answer for why she supports school choice. “Because it already exists,” the Republican state representative told The Lion. “School choice exists every single day for the wealthy. Sadly, most Democrats and some...
Georgia Senate committee advances school-choice bill | The Center Square
The Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee has advanced legislation that would allow Georgians to put taxpayer money toward the cost of private school tuition. Senate Bill 601, the Georgia Educational Freedom Act, would create state-funded Promise Scholarships...
Could guaranteed basic income replace the welfare system? | Daily Citizen News
Georgia is the latest state to experiment with something called a “guaranteed basic income.” It will be interesting to see if these pilot projects can avoid the same pitfalls as the welfare system they’re intended to supplement — and might be better off simply...
Resilience and Equity | Saporta Report
The challenges of the last two year have impacted all of us. From social injustices to racial inequality and COVID, our communities are suffering. We have also seen great acts of heroism with our front-line workers who have continued to serve our communities. A common...
The Water Tower will soon make Gwinnett County a hub for water innovation and research | Gwinnett Daily Post
Gwinnett County’s new center for water-related research and innovation development is close to opening its doors after years of planning and construction. The Water Tower property in Buford is set to welcome tenants in March, and officials from the center and Gwinnett...
Public policy expert explains education voucher bills | Access WDUN
Two bills proposed in the Georgia state legislature, House Bill 60 and 999, would give selected families a $6,000 subsidy to apply towards homeschooling, private school tuition or tutors. However, some parents and educators think that these bills will divert money...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Appreciating Republican response to COVID | Independent Advocate
All Iowans can appreciate the work done by the Republican government in the recovery from the pandemic. As long ago as last September, Iowa had the third quickest rate of recovery from Covid-19 in the United States. Last month, the Georgia Center for Opportunity...
New Research: School Students Lag Behind in Literacy Almost Two Years Into the COVID-19 Pandemic
New research brief shows that elementary school students lag behind in literacy almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic The mid-school-year assessment concluded that students in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade are the furthest behind compared to their...
